Riyad Mahrez is a right winger who plays for Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia. He was born in France but captains the Algeria national team. He started his youth career at AAS Sarcelles in France. He turned professional in 2009 with Quimper, playing there for one season before moving to Le Havre. He spent three years there, starting with the reserve team and eventually becoming a first-team regular.
In January 2014, Mahrez signed with Leicester City. In his first season, he helped them win the Championship and get promoted to the Premier League. The next season, he was named Algerian Footballer of the Year, and won the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award. He then made the Premier League Team of the Year as Leicester shocked the world by winning the title.
He moved to Manchester City in 2018 and won the Premier League, FA Cup, and EFL Cup in his first season. He went on to win three more league titles, another FA Cup, two more League Cups, and the Champions League in 2022-23 as part of a treble. In July 2023, he joined Saudi club Al-Ahli and won two AFC Champions League Elite titles and the Saudi Super Cup.
Mahrez made his international debut for Algeria in 2014. He’s played in the 2014 and 2026 World Cups. He also played in six Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, winning the 2019 edition. In 2016, he was named African Footballer of the Year.
5 Fun Facts You Didn’t Know About Riyad Mahrez
Chose Algeria as a Tribute to His Late Father
Born in France to an Algerian father and Moroccan mother, Mahrez was eligible for France, Algeria, or Morocco. He chose Algeria in honour of his father, Ahmed, who passed away from a heart attack when Mahrez was just 15. His brother confirmed this was a tribute. Mahrez said he felt the need to be the “man of the house” after his father died.
He Has His Own Hairstyle Named After Him
Growing up in Sarcelles, Mahrez was such a style icon that local kids copied his look. His barber revealed children would come in asking for “the Mahrez cut” copying every detail from the style to the lines shaved into his hair. The barber called him “the Cristiano Ronaldo of Sarcelles” because if Mahrez did something with his hair, everyone imitated him.
A ‘Football Madman’ Who Played in the Dark
Mahrez’s obsession with football was legendary. Friends described him as a “football madman” who would keep playing even when there was no light. One former teammate recalled that after training, he would go around to local gymnasiums looking for more games. Nothing could stop him from getting on the pitch. A relentless passion for the game.
Roommate with Paul Pogba’s Brother, and Drove Him Crazy
During his early days at French minnows Quimper, Mahrez shared a room with Mathias Pogba, Paul’s older brother. They didn’t get along at first. Mahrez was incredibly untidy. Mathias said he “had to domesticate him.” But despite the rocky start, they became close friends, and Mathias even predicted Mahrez could be as good as his younger brother.
Embarrassing Nickname from Teammates
During a transfer saga at Leicester, Mahrez spent deadline day stuck in a Paris airport, waiting for a call from a big club. His teammates found it so amusing that they dubbed him “Viktor Navorski” the name of Tom Hanks’s character in The Terminal, who gets trapped in an airport. The nickname stuck as a reminder of his infamous airport stay.
FAQs
Q. Which club does Riyad Mahrez play for?
A. Riyad Mahrez plays for Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia.
Q. Which national team does Riyad Mahrez captain?
A. Mahrez captains the Algeria national team.
Q. Which Premier League club did Riyad Mahrez help?
A. Mahrez helped Leicester City win the Premier League in the 2015–16 season.
Q. What did Riyad Mahrez win with Manchester City?
A. Mahrez won the Premier League, the FA Cup, and the UEFA Champions League as part of a treble.
Q. Which major international trophy has Riyad Mahrez won with Algeria?
A. Mahrez won the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
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